Client: The B.O.B.
Location: Grand Rapids, MI, United States
Completion date: 2013
Project Team
Artist
Dave MacKenzie
LiveWall
Other
Mike Haynes
LiveWall
Overview
Flowing abstract pattern using annual, perennial and food plants as the paint. A total of 2500 plants made up the design on this 1400 square foot installation. The work was featured in ArtPrize 2013 and placed in the top 25 of 1500 entries.
Goals
The goals of this project were to introduce an entire community to the concept of planted living artwork, and to challenge the community to see plants in a different environment, in an urban setting, among concrete and steel, and to propose the question: How would our urban spaces look, smell and feel, if infused with plant life?
Process
As the Artist I collaborated with the property owner and colleagues who are adept at general trades (carpentry, plumbing and electrical). I also collaborated with the growers who grew the plant material for this project.
Additional Information
The most amazing thing about this project was to see how emotionally the public responded to it. They commented on how it made them “feel” and their initial reaction was to ask “is this really real?”.